How Syracuse can embrace being #CanadasCollegeTeam

Since Leo Rautins first patrolled the Dome floor, the Syracuse Orange have welcomed a number of outstanding athletes from Canada. While the majority of these athletes have been from the Greater Toronto area, recent football commitments could make for three Quebec natives on the roster in 2019. And that’s without considering that one of the stars of the SU men’s basketball team, Oshae Brissett, is also from Canada as well.

So how can Syracuse increase their recruiting inroads across the Great White North? Maybe one way is to make these athletes and the fans more at home in the Carrier Dome. Thankfully a quick Slack conversation gave us some ideas on how to accomplish this, so let’s take a look at some of our suggestions.

• Poutine of the Week with Jim Boeheim sponsored by Smoke’s Poutinerie

Jim’s probably going to ask for the same chicken parm poutine every week, but we’ll send the noted food critic around to try a different poutine.

• Shania Twain sings both national anthems

The Dome’s already flying the Canadian flag so let’s get Shania in town to sign the anthems before big games. When she’s not available, I’d suggest frequent Montreal Canadiens anthem singer Sara Diamond.

• Switching Dunkin for Tim Horton’s

It’s blasphemy to mention this to any New Englander, but after a Double Double and some Timbits you’ll be alright.

• Pre-game taunts will now be “We hope you do well, but not well enough” and “We’re sorry we will be defeating you”

Exceptions will be made for Clemson Tigers football and Georgetown Hoyas basketball who will be greeted with chants of “You stink. You really really really stink”

• Football coin flips will use a Toonie

The Orange will gain an advantage when opposing captains get distracted by the concept of a two-dollar coin.

• Strange Brew Saturdays

Anyone named McKenzie (or Hoser) gets free admission to the Dome.

Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

• Annual game in Air Canada Centre

It can be an early-season exhibition against a Canadian University or a neutral-site OOC game, but Syracuse should copy the MSG model and get one hoops game in Toronto each year.

• Welcome Drake as an official ambassador

The Raptors did this and ended up with OVO promos and gold-and-black uniforms. Maybe we don’t have to go that far, but we can just play some more Drake on the Dome P.A. instead.

• French Canadian Appreciation Night

Syracuse wears “l’orange” jerseys, Jim has to coach in French, and everyone gets “Je me souviens” tees at their seats. For football, we could stylize the uniforms like the old Nordiques look.

• Start a men’s hockey program

(Self explanatory)

Those are some starting ideas, what other recommendations would you make?